Light Isolator Member Assembly with Fitting Parts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing light isolators have a large number of components, making accurate alignment and assembly challenging.

Innovation Solution

A light isolator member configuration with a lens surface, transmission surface, positioning part, fixing part, and fitting parts that allow for the reduction in the number of components and facilitate accurate alignment by fitting with another light isolator member, using optical devices like polarizers and Faraday rotators between the members.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a light isolator includes multiple components (collimator lens, polarizer, Faraday rotator, etc.), then the light isolation function is achieved, but the number of components increases making assembly difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight isolation functionVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent integrates the collimator lens, polarizer, and Faraday rotator into a single integrated optical component structure. The housing contains all these optical elements in a unified assembly, reducing the number of separate components that need to be handled and aligned during assembly, while maintaining the complete light isolation functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated optical component serves multiple functions simultaneously: the collimator lens collimates light, the polarizer polarizes light, and the Faraday rotator rotates polarization. By combining these functions into a single component unit, the system achieves the same performance with fewer discrete parts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If multiple optical components are used in the light isolator, then the optical functionality is complete, but accurate alignment of components becomes challenging

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical functionalityVSAvoidalignment accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

By merging the collimator lens, polarizer, and Faraday rotator into a pre-aligned integrated component, the alignment precision is established during manufacturing of the integrated unit rather than during final assembly. This eliminates the need for precise field alignment of multiple separate components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The optical components are pre-aligned and integrated into a single unit before being installed in the light isolator system. This preliminary alignment action is performed under controlled manufacturing conditions, ensuring accurate optical alignment is achieved before the component is deployed in the final application.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the light isolator includes many discrete components, then the optical design is flexible, but the assembly process becomes complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical design flexibilityVSAvoidassembly speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The integrated optical component consolidates multiple optical elements into a single assembly unit, dramatically reducing the number of assembly steps required. Instead of assembling and aligning multiple separate components, the integrated unit is installed as a single component, significantly improving assembly productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The optical design flexibility is preserved in the manufacturing phase where the integrated component can be designed and configured for different optical requirements. Once manufactured, the pre-configured integrated unit can be quickly installed without time-consuming alignment procedures, thus improving assembly speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration reduces the complexity of assembly and ensures precise alignment of components, enhancing the ease of assembly and reducing the number of components, thereby improving the functionality of the light isolator.

Implementation Method 1

a light isolator including a Faraday rotator and a polarization light separating element

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFaraday effect: Faraday Effect

Implementation Method 2

collimator lens 3, and collimator lens holder 5

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLens refraction: Lens

Data Source

PatentUS11256116B2Light isolator member and light isolator

Publication Date: 2022.02.22 ENPLAS CORP

AI summary

A light isolator member of an embodiment of the present invention is configured to be joined to another light isolator member to serve as a part of a light isolator, the light isolator member including: a lens surface disposed in a first surface; a transmission surface disposed at a position corresponding to the lens surface in a second surface on a side opposite to the first surface; and a fitting part disposed in the second surface, the fitting part being configured for fitting to the other light isolator member.